A PUBLIC meeting has been called in Delungra this week to oppose the possible closure of the Delungra bypass road.

Inverell Shire Council will decide at its next monthly meeting, on October 27, whether or not to close the road.

After a recent meeting with council officials and others, affected landholders remained unconvinced that safety concerns are the prime reason for the council’s push to close the road.

Rather, they said the real issue is one of funding the level of maintenance required to maintain the road adequately.

The road is graded once a year.

One resident, Peter Davidson, said at the conclusion of the recent closed meeting with council representatives it was clear that all but one of the affected landholders were totally opposed to the prospect of closure. He said this move would not only have an adverse impact on those in the immediate vicinity, but just as importantly, a far greater number of those from the wider region who use the road regularly.

“Whilst it is plain to see that the proposed closure would be a simple and cost effective short-term solution for council, it sets a very disturbing precedent for the Inverell Shire,” Mr Davidson said in a letter to The Times.

“Council assures us that this would be a ‘one-off’ and would never consider closing another public road, to ‘through traffic’, because of budget constraints.

“However I would urge those concerned to attend a public meeting to discuss the proposed closure to be held at Myall Creek Hall next Thursday, October 9, at 7.30pm.”

© 2009 Inverell Times

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